Electric signaling apparatus



\No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

'- H. E. WALTER.

r BLEGTRIGSIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 529,986. Patented Nov. 27, .1894.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. E. WALTER. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 27, 1894.

nmoumm, WASNINGTON o c (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' H. E. WALTER.

ELEGTRIG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

N0. 529,986. Patented Nov. 27,1894.

' prove and simplify the construction of elecful for fire alarmsignaling in small cities,

MEE

HORACE EVERETT WALTER, OF RIOHFIELD SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,986, dated November27, 1894.

Application filed Apn'l Z6 1894=v To aZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HORACE EVERETT WAL- TER, of Richfield Springs,Otsego county, and State of New York, have invented anImprovementinElectricSignalingApparatus,ofwhich the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters and figures on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention has for its object to imtric signaling systems, beingespecially usetowns and villages, beinginstalled and thereaftermaintained at a small outlay.

In accordance with this invention a series ofsignal boxes are located atdesirable points, and are each connected by an independent wire with acentral office, and at said central ofiice automatic receiving mechanismis provided adapted to respond to the operation of the boxes, and alsoto retransmit the signal to the fire engine houses, tower strikers, andto any other electro-magnetically controlled indicating apparatus whichmay be employed. The signal boxes are so constructed and arranged thatinstead of transmitting a predetermined group of impulses, indicatingthe box number as is now commonly done, a single impulse is transmitted,that is to say, the normal condition of the circuit is merely changed,and such change in the condition of thecircuit sets in operation thecentral office apparatus. The signal boxes when pulled are set tocontinuously produce the change in the condition of the circuit requiredto set in motion the central olfice apparatus and remain so set untilrestored by means controlled from the central office, so that when onceoperated the signal so set will be transmitted, even though severalboxes are pulled at or about the same time. Herein a special form ofsignal box is provided by which this abnormal change in the condition ofthe circuit may be affected but this part of my invention may be carriedout in divers ways.

The signal box shown comprises a manually operated circuit closingdevice or switch which is adapted to close a short circuit around a highresistance coil which may be contained in the boxyso that the abnormal$erial No. 509,059. (No model.)

change in the condition of the circuit is produced by decreasing thenormal resistance of the line, and a restoring electro-magnet isprovided for each box, which is operated from the central office. -Atthe central ofitice a motor-driven box selecting device is provided,which is released by an electro-magnet con trolled by any one of thesignal boxes, and when so released operates to select the particular boxthat has been pulled, and as soon as said box has been properlyselected, the actuating motor of said selecting device is stopped,another electro-magnet being preferably employed for this purpose; butif two or more boxes have been pulled at or about the same time, or if abox is pulled during the time a signal is being transmitted from anotherbox, the said receiving apparatus is so constructed aud arranged thatthe signals will all be received separately and successively, althoughnot necessarily in the order that the boxes have been pulled.

The receiving apparatus herein shown comprises a series of terminalsconnected with the several independent wires, and a motordriven trailingarm or switch which when operating successively engages said terminalsand when said switch arm engages that terminal connected to anindependent wire, the normal condition of which has been changed, thestopping mechanism is brought into action. If however several boxes havebeen pulled, the trailing'arm will be stopped upon the first terminalthat it arrives, that is connected with one of the independent wires,the condition of which has been changed, and after that signal has beenreceived, it will be immediately again set in motion.

Rewinding and restoring devices are provided for the box-selectingdevice, which are herein represented as operated by the retransmittingdevice. The re-transmitting device comprises a series of contact pens,and a series of break wheels, one for each signal box, and an actuatingmotor adapted to rotate said wheels any predetermined number ofrevolutions, as for instance it may be arranged to transmit threerounds, and said motor is controlled by the stopping mechanism of theselecting device, or simultaneously with the stopping of said motor, soas to release said motor as soon as the selecting device has properlyselected the box; and the contact pens which co-operate with said breakwheels to make and break the circuit controlled by the rotransmittingdevice are connected by branch wir s with the selecting device in such amanner that any one of said pens will be electrically connected orincluded in the circuit, that its break wheel may transmit a signaldepending upon the position of the co-operating parts of said selectingdevice. The re-transmitting device controls an electric circuit whichincludes any electromagnetically controlled indicators, tap bells, towerstrikers, or whistle blowers, and the signal which is transmitted istherefore regularly indicated upon these various indicating instruments.

The break wheels will be notched to indicate the different boxes.

Figure 1, shows in front elevation the operating parts of a signalbox,embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, afront. elevation of the same on a smaller scale and placed in a case;Fig. 4, a front elevation of the operating parts of the central officeapparatus, and Fi 5, a diagrammatical view showing the circuitconnections.

The signal box which I prefer to employin connection with my fire alarmsystem is designed to close a short circuit around a high resistancecoil, to thereby decrease the normal resistance of the line, and whenonce operated will hold the circuit in its abnormal condition for acertain length of time, or until such time as the parts have beenrestored by an electro-magnet which is included in or otherwise operatedby the circuit and controlled from'the central office. One form of sucha signal box is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein a base plate a ofany suitable size and shape to support the operating parts has securedto it a stand a which receives a shouldered screw a Upon the shoulder ofsaid screw a two independent hubs a 004, are loosely mounted, one ofwhich as a is connected by a spring a with the screw a and is providedwith a radially projecting hand lever or pull a, by means of which itmay be turned, and also with a radially projecting arm a the end ofwhich is oiiset or turned at right angles to the arm; and another ofwhich as a has an arm a projecting radially beneath the offset end ofthe arm a and has also a short radially projecting arm a which bearsupon a flat spring a secured to the base plate, and has also a shortradially projecting stud (L12 which occupies a position beneath butnormally free from contact with a flat contact pen e secured to a blocka of insulating material, secured to the base plate a. An insulated studa rises from the stand or, upon which the free end of said contact pen anormally rests. A plate or, cut away for a portion of its length and attwo different points, is erected upon suitable pillars a", secured tothe base plate a, and the hand lever a works in one of said cut awayportions of said plate, the upper ends of which cutaway portions serveas limiting stops for said lever and the arm a works in the other cutaway portion of said plate, the upper end of which cut away portionserves as a limiting stop for said arm, or in lieu of this plate anyother form of limiting stops may be provided for said lever and arm.

The operation of the box is as follows:'lho hand lever a having beenpulled or depressed, the olfset end of arm a bears upon and depressesthe arm a turning its hub a and bringing the short arm orstud a, whichis properly disposed thereon, up into engagement or contact with theflat contact pen a. A latch (1 formed on the pivoted armature lever ofan electro-magnet (L21, is so positioned as to engage and hold the arm awhen depressed, until such time said latch is withdrawn by theattraction of the armature. The circuit wire 2 is connected with thecontact pen 0, and the circuit wire 3 with the frame, said wire 3including the electro-magnet (1/ and when the stud a is brought intoengagement with the contact pen a, the circuit will be closed. The wire2 terminates at the ground plate 4, and the wire 3 extends to thecentral office. A high resistance coil 1) is connected between the wires2, 3, say of one thousand ohms, for the purpose of keeping the lineclosed for testing purposes, this resistance being so high that althoughthere is a current at all times passing over the line still it is notsullicient to operate the receiving relays (to be described). When thecircuit is open at (0 (L13, as it normally is, the current passesthrough the high resistance coil, 1), but when the circuit is closed at(L (L13, the current takes the path of least resistance,shortcircuiti'ng said high resistance coil b. Hence a single change in thenormal condition of the "circuit is thus produced by the operation ofthe signal box, and said change is one of decreased resistance. Thiscircuit controlling device is designed to be placed in an ordinary ironcase 0, having a door 0, provided with a glass face 0 as shown in Fi 3.

At the central oiiice a box-selecting device is provided which is soconstructed and arranged as to be set in operation by a change in thenormal condition of the circuit at any one of the boxes and to bestopped when the movable member of said selecting device arrives at theproper position to indicate the box at which the condition of thecircuit has thus-been changed. This box-selecting device, see Fig. 4:,consists of aseriesofsegmen ts or terminals '12,, arranged in a circleand secured to a hard rubber disk, and a continuone solid ring aarranged concentrically with relation to said terminals 72, and atrailing arm n having upon it trailing lingers n of, one of which as nco-operates with the terminals n, and the other of which co-operateswith the solid ring a. The trailing or selecting arm n is secured to ashaft a carrying a ratchet IIO wheel and also a pinion, which latter isengaged bya sector a on the end of a sector-carrying arm n pivoted at 01The sector is made quite heavy and is normally elevated and serves asthe actuator for the trailing or selecting arm. A toothed wheel m isalsoconnected to the shaft n which engages a pinion m secured to a shaftcarrying a toothed wheel m which engages a pinion secured to a shaftcarrying a toothed wheel m", which engages a pinion m secured to a shaftcarrying an escape wheel m with which co-operates a suitable pallet mbearing an upright projection 30. Two independent stopping or retainingdevices are provided for this train of gearing, consisting of thehorizontalarms 0, 0', extended in opposite ways, and loosely mountedupon the same pivot 0 each arm having a depending leg 0 o gadapted tocooperate with the projection 30 of the pallet. The arm 0 is held up inits elevated position by a shoulder or projection upon the armature 0 ofan electro-magnet 0 and when in such position its depending leg 0engages and holds the/projection 30' of the pallet so as to restrain themovement of the train. The arm 0' is likewise held up in its elevatedposition by a shoulder or projectioniupon the armature 0 of anelectro-magnet 0 and when in such position its depending leg 0 isnormally out of engagement with said projection 30. The armat-ures ofsaid electro-magnets 0, 0 are both normally retracted, but when thearmature of the electro-magnet 0 is attracted the arm 0 is released,which in turn releases the train, and when the armature of theelectro-magnet 0 is attracted, the arm 0' is released, which in turnthrows its depending leg 0 into engagement with the projection 30, andthereby stops the train. Hence the electro-magnet 0 serves as thereleasing electro-magnet, and electro-magnet 0 as the stoppingelectro-magnet. When said arms 0, 0', are released, they fall onto stopsor.projections s, s, rising from an arm 3, pivoted at s toa stud withinan outer case not shown but of any ordinary form which may contain theoperating parts of the central office apparatus. The free end of the arm.9 rests upon a cam s pivoted at .9 and by turning said cam, said arm 8is raised sufficiently to restore the levers 0, and 0 and as said leversare restored the leg 0 will be removed from its engagement with theprojection 30 of the pallet, and the leg 0 will be brought intoengagement with said projection 30. I

The re-transmitting device herein shown consists of a series of breakwheels 01, secured to a shaft which is driven by a normally wound motormechanism of any suitable construction, the shafts or arbors of whichhave their hearing in the frame d, and a series of contact pens d areprovided, one for each break wheel, and secured to a block d ofinsulating material. There will be one break wheel and contact pen foreach box which is connected with the central office, and each breakWheel will be notched differently in order that the differentbox-numbers maybe retransmitted over the circuit which is operated bysaid re-transmitting device. A projection d on the pallet or palletshaft d of said motor mechanism, enters the path of movement of aprojection d secured to or connected with the arm 0', and the parts areso disposed with relation to each other that when the arm 0' is releasedbythe attraction of the electro-magnet 0 and thereby operates to stopthe train of the box-selecting device, the said projection d willoperate to release the motor-mechanism of the re-transmitting device.

An arm d is secured to one of the shafts of the motor mechanism of there-transmitting device which is designed to make one complete revolutioneach time the said motor is released, and during the latter part of suchrevolution it engages a pin (1 on a vertical bar d sliding in suitableguide-ways provided for it, not shown, and lifts said bar a shortdistance or until said arm 61 passes out of engagement or by the saidpin. Another pin d is secured to the vertical sliding bar d at a pointbeneath the sector-carrying arm 41, and as said bar is raised, engagesand lifts said sector-carrying arm, thereby restoring it to its normalelevated position, and rewinding the motor-mechanism of the boxselectingdevice. Another pin (Z projects from the vertical sliding bar d at apoint heneath a projection s of the cam 3 and as said bar d is raised bythe arm 61 to rewind the motor of the box-selecting device, said pin (1strikes the projection 8 and in passing by said portion turns the cam inone direction a short distance, but such movement of the cam does notoperate the arm 8, but as soon as thearm d disengages the pin d and thebar 61 falls by gravity, the pin d will strike the .upper edge of theprojection s of the cam,

and in passing by said -projection will turn the cam s in the oppositedirection, thereby raising the arms and restoring the levers o, 0', andfurthermore will move the projection (1 into engagement with theprojection 61 and thereby stopping the operation of the motor-mechanismof the re-transmitting device. Thus it will be seen that each time theboxselecting device operates, the re-transmitting device is set inoperation just as the selecting device ceases to operate, and that saidre-transmitting device in addition to transmitting the box-numbersignal, restores the parts of the box selecting device to their normalposition, and in so doing automatically stops itself.

By referring to Fig. 5, wherein a diagrammatical view of the circuits isshown, the apparatus is constructed for ten signal boxes, and hencethere are ten independent wires as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ll), ll, 12,leading to the central station, all being connected to a single wire 13,which is connected with the ground plate G, and contains the mainbattery B, and also a circuit breaker, one member of which as 14 iscarried by the arm 0, and the other member of which as 15, is adapted toco-opcrate therewith. \Vhen any signal is sent in from a box, and thearm 0 released, as will be hereinafter described, the wire 13 is openedat 14, 15, until such timeas said arm is restored.

Each independent wire 3, to 12 inclusive, contains a relay 16, thearmatures of which are arranged as represented in Fig. 5, to close anormally open circuit 17, containing a local battery 18, and also theelectro-magnet o, and the circuit closers operated by said relay 16 arearranged in multiple are.

When the resistance is removed from any signal box as by shortcircuiting it, the relays 16 will attract their armatures and therebyclose the local circuit 17 and operate the releasing magnet 0 Branchwires 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, are connected with thewires 3 to 12, outside the relay 16, and also with the terminals n ofthe box-selecting device, and a single wire 29 connects the continuousring a with the ground plate Gr, said wire 29 including theelectro-magnet 0 the circuit breaker 30, 31, one member of which as 31is borne by the arm 0, and also the auxiliary battery B which may be anopen circuit battery. As the box-selecting device is released the switchor trailing arm n successively connects the branch wires 19 to28inclusive with the wire 29, thereby successively shunting the relays16, but as soon as the arm n arrives at that terminal which is connectedwith an independent wire wherein the resistance has been shortcircuited, then the battery B will operate the electro-magnet 0 andsimultaneously therewith the restoring electro magnet contained in thebox.

The relays 16, are wound so as to offer a high resistance, say fromseventy-five to one hundred ohms, to prevent the box-selecting devicefrom establishing a circuit with the first line that it connects with,after it has been started, and causing the stopping electro-magnet o tooperate and stop the boxselecting device in connection with the wrongline.

For illustration suppose the relays 16 to be wound so as to offer butlittle resistance, and with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5,the box on line 4 should be operated, the box selecting device wouldstart up, and as soon as the arm n closed on the first segment, thecircuit would be established as followsz-From battery B, over wire 29,circuit closer 30, 31, stopping electro-magnet 0 wire 29, ring a,commutator segment, wire 19, wire 3 to its point of attachment with wire4, then wire 4 to ground at box, and by reason of the strength of thebattery B, the stopping electro-magnet 0 would be operated, and the boxselecting device stopped in connection with line 3. \Vhereas, if saidrelays were wound so as to offer high resistances, or it separateresistance coils should be provided as a substitute therefor, when thearm a closed on the first segment as above referred to, a closed pathfor the current would be established, but the resistance of the relays16 of two lines would have to be overcome in order that the stoppingelectro-magnet 0 could operate, and the battery B is too feeble toovercome these combined resistances, and at the same time operate saidelectro-magnet 0 but when the commutator arm n comes in contact with thecommutator segment leading to the box line that has been operated, thenthe relay 16 of said box line is shunted, and the battery B, having noresistance to overcome, except the normal resistance of the line,operates the stopping electromagnet 0 Thus it will be seen that whilethe commutator arm successively establishes closed paths for thecurrent, the stopping electro-magnet 0 will not operate until a path isestablished having no resistance.

If two box lines with low resistances at the central station should bepulled simultaneously, the same result as above set forth would follow,whereas if resistances were supplied, the box-selecting device could notstop until its movable member made proper connection with the rightline.

Branch wires 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, are connectedrespectively to the terminals n of the box-selecting device which areconnected with the branch Wires 19 to 28, inclusive, and said branchwires 32 to 41 are connected respectively with the contact pens d? whichco-operate with the break wheels (Z of the re-transmitting device, and awire 42 leads from or is electrically connected with the break wheelshaft which contains a bat tery B and also any suitable indicatinginstruments 13 such for instance as tower strikers, whistle blowers,electric indicators, tap bells, &c., and said wire is connected to thewire 29, and includes a circuit closer 43, 44, 44, the member 43 ofwhich is borne by the arm 0', so that when the arm 0 is operated to stopthe train of the box-electric device, the circuit containing theindicating devices and which is operated by the retransmitting devicewill be closed. The re-transmitting circuit is therefore normally open.Thus it will be seen that each time any box is pulled, the box-selectingdevice will be set in motion, and stop upon arriving at the properterminal, and thereupon the retransmitting apparatus is set in motion,and the box-number signal transmitted to the dilferent points desired,and thereafter the boxselecting device is rewound; and its releasing andstopping levers re-set, just as the retranslnitting apparatus ceases tooperate.

If more than one box has been pulled the signals of the other boxesremain set until the arm 0 is restored to its normal position, and thecommon wire 13 closed at 14,15, and then the box-selecting device willbe at once again setin motion, and the above described operationrepeated. Therefore any number of boxes may be pulled at any time,

' and all the signals will ultimately be received.

Lil

As a testing device I may use a series'of contact pens 100, arrangedupon a board 101, and connected respectively with the wires 3 to 12inclusive by branch wires 102, and a manually operated switch armlat,'pivoted to said board which is connected with the line wire 13 at apoint near the battery B.

I claim 1. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of aseries of signal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a centralstation, abox selecting device at said central station set in motion bythe operation of any one of the signal boxes and stopped when theparticular box operated has been selected, a re-transmitting apparatusset in motion upon the stopping of the box-selecting device, com prisinga series of circuit controllers, one for each signal box, a circuitoperated by said re-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatusoperated bysaid circuit, substantially as described.

2. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central station,a box-selecting device at said central station, and its actuating motor,and an electro-magnet operated by any one of said signal boxes forreleasing said motor, a stopping electro-magnet controlled by saidselecting device, operating to stop said motor when the selecting devicehas selected the box which has been operated to start the box-selectingdevice, a motor-driven re-transmitting device at said central officecontrolled by said box-selecting device, comprising a series of circuitcontrollers, one for each signal box, and a circuit operated by saidre-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatus operated by saidcircuit, substantially as described.

3. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes each adapted to effect a single change in the condition ofthe circuit bypulling the box, independent wires connecting them withacentral office, a box selecting device set in motion by the operationof any one of the signal boxes and stopped when the particular boxoperated has been selected, and a retransmitting apparatus set in motionupon the stopping of said box-selecting device, comprising a series ofbox-number wheels and contact pens, and a motor, a circuit operated bythe said re-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatus containedin and operated by said circuit, substantially as described.

4. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, each adapted to effect a single change in the condition inthe circuit by pulling the box, in-

dependent wires connecting them with a central oflice, a box-selectingdevice at said central office, its actuating motor, a releasingelectrdmagnet for said motor operated by any of the signal boxes, and astopping electro-magnet for said motor in electrical connection with andcontrolled by said box-selecting device, operating to stop the motorwhen the box which has been operated is selected, a re-t ansmittingdevice, a motor for operating it, released by the stoppingelectromagnetof said box-selecting device, acircuit operated by saidre-transmitting device, and indicating devices operated thereby,substantially as described.

5. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central station,a box-selecting device at said central station, setin motion by theoperation of any one of the signal boxes and stopped when the particularbox operated has been selected, a re-transmitting apparatus set inmotion upon the stopping of the box-selecting device, a circuit operatedthereby, and indicating apparatus contained in and operated bysaidcircuit and restoring devices for the cooperating parts of saidbox-selecting device operated by the motor of said re-transmittingapparatus, substantially as described.

6. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes each adapted to be set in its abnormal position to effect asingle change in the condition of the circuit by pulling the box, alatch for holding the parts thereofin their abnormal posi tion,independent wires connecting said signal boxes with the central office,a box-selecting'device at the central office set in motion by theoperation of any one of the signal boxes, and stopped when theparticular box operated has been selected, and an electromagnet in eachbox operated when the boxselecting device has stopped, to release thelatch and thereby permitthe parts to resume their normal positions,substantially as described.

7. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, each adapted to effect a single change in the condition ofthe circuit by pulling the box, independent wires connecting them with acentral office, a box-selecting device at said central oflice, itsactuating motor, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor, operated byany one of the signal boxes and a stopping electro-magnet for said motorin electrical connection with and controlled by said boxselectingdevice, operating to stop the motor when the box which has been operatedis selected; and a restoring electro-magnet in each box, operatingsimultaneouslywith said stopping electro-magnet that the parts of thebox may resume their normal position, substantially as described.

8. In an electric signaling apparatus, the

combination of several signal boxes, ind ependent wires connecting themwith a central office, a. box-selecting device at said central oliieecomprising a series of termin als for said independent wires, a switcharm contacting successively with said terminals, a motor for rotatingit, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor operated by any one of theboxes, a stopping eleetro-maguet forsaid motor, elec trically connectedwith and controlled by said box-selecting device, and an automaticallyoperated re-transmitting apparatus comprising a series of box-numberwheels, and contact pens electrically connected with the terminals ofsaid box-selecting device, a circuit operated thereby, and indicatingdevices op,- erated by said circuit, substantially as described.

9. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of several signalboxes, independent wires connecting them with a central ot'fice, a relayincluded in each wire at said central office, wound to offer a highresistance, said independent wires being joined at a common point beyondsaid relays a boxselecting device at said central oi'fice, its actuating motor, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor, the circuit ofwhich is operated by any one of: the aforesaid relays, an electromagnetfor stopping said box-selecting device, included in a branch wireshunting the high resistance relays, substantially as described.

10. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, each adapted to be set to produce a change in the normalcondition of the circuit by pulling the box and to remain set until theparts thereof have been restored by means controlled t'rom the centraloffice, independent wires connecting them with the central office, abox-selecting device at said central office, the actuating motor ofwhich is set in motion by the change in the condition of the circuitproduced by any one of said signal boxes, an electro-niagneticallyoperated stopping device for said box-selecting device, which isconnected successively with said independent wires as the box-selectingdevice operates, and operating to stop said box-selecting device uponconnecting it with one of the independent wires wherein its normalcondition has been changed, and a restoring electro-magnet in each boxfor the parts thereof, and means for operating them when their circuitsare connected with the box-selecting device, substantially as described.

11. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling deviceconsisting of a circuit closer comprising a contact pen (L13, a stud aprojecting from a rotatable hub, which is adapted to be brought intoengagement with said contact pen, a hand lever independent of butadapted to turn said hub, a latch for holding the hub with its stud a inengagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasingsaid latch which is controlled from the central office, substantially asdescribed.

12. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling deviceconsisting of a circuit closer, comprising the contact pen (L13, andstud a projecting from a rotatable hub a the latter being adapted to bebrought into engagement with the former to close the circuit, the springpressed hand lever a secured to a hub (t the arm a projecting from saidhub a and having an offset end adapted to engage a projection on thehuba", to turn said hub a when the lever is pulled, but returningindependently thereof, a latch for holding the hub a with its stud a, inengagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasingsaid latch which is controlled from the central otfice, substantially asdescribed.

13. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling deviceconsisting of a circuit closer, comprising the contact pen (L and stud01, projecting from a rotatable hub (0 the latter being adapted to bebrought into engagement with the former to close the circuit, the springpressed hand lever a secured to a hub a the arm a projecting from saidhub a and having an offset end adapted to engage a projection on the hubof, to turn said hub or', when the lever is pulled, but returningindependently thereof, a latch for holding the hub a with its stud a inengagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasingsaid latch which is controlled from the central ollice, a highresistance coil, and short circuit around it closed by said circuitcloser 01, substantially as described.

14. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofsignal boxes, each adapted to be set to produce a change in the normalcondition of the circuit by pulling the box and to remain set until theparts thereof have been restored by means controlled from the centraloffice, independent wires connecting them with the central office, abox-selecting device at said central office, a releasing electro-magnettherefor common to all said independent Wires, a circuit breaker alsocommon to all said independent wires operated by said releasingelectro-magnet, means for stopping said box-selecting device uponelectrically connecting it with one 01": the independent wires whereinits normal condition has been changed, arestoring electro-magnet in eachbox, and means for operating said restoring electro-magnets, when theircircuits have been electrically connected with the box-selecting device,and a restoring device for said common circuit breaker, whereby thebox-selecting device is again placed in electrical connection with theindependent wires, to be operated by a change in the normal condition ofany one of them, substantially as described.

15. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofindependent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operativeelectric connection withsaid wires, starting mechanism for saidbox-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of anywire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wireshaving its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected withsaid box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having acircuit controlling device with a pull for setting it in its abnormalposition, to effect a change in the condition of the circuit, a latchfor holding it so set, and an electro-magnet. for releasing said latchwhen its wire becomes operatively connected with the box-selectingdevice, substantially as described.

16. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofindependent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operativeelectric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for saidbox-selecting device operated by achange in the normal condition of anywire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wireshaving its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected withsaid box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having acircuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also 'anelectromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in itsabnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomesoperatively connected with the box-selecting device, a normally woundre-transmitting device set in motion by the box selecting device whenone of the independent wires becomes operatively connected therewith, acircuit operated by it, and indicating devices operated by said circuit,substantially as described.

17. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofindependent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operativeelectric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for saidbox-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of anywire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires hav-'ing its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with saidbox-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having acircuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also anelectromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in itsabnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomesoperatively connected with the box-selecting device, a circuit breakercommon to all said independent wires operated in'conjunction with thestarting mechanism of said box-selecting device, and a restoring devicetherefor, substantially as described.

18. In an electric signaling apparatus, the

combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting devicesuccessively making operative electric connection with said wires,starting mechanism for said boX-selectingdevice operated by a change inthe normal condition of any wire, a stepping mechanism therefor operatedwhen one of the wires having its normal condition changed becomesoperatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal boxconnected in each wire, having a circuit controlling device, with meansfor operating it, and also an electro magnet for retaining the circuitcontrolling device in its abnormal condition with the signal set, untilits wire becomes operatively connected with the boxselecting device, acircuit breaker common to all said independent Wires, operated inconjunction with the starting mechanism of said box-selecting device,and a restoring device therefor, a normally wound motor for operatingit, set in motion by the box-selecting device when one of theindependent wires becomes operatively connected therewith, box-numbercircuit controllers operated by said motor, a circuit op- I erated bythem, and indicating devices operated by said circuit, substantially asdescribed.

19. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofindependent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operativeelectric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for saidbox-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of anywire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wireshaving its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected withsaid box-selecting device, a signal boX connected in each Wire, having acircuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also anelectromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in itsabnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomesoperatively connected with the box-selecting device, a normally woundre-transmitting device set in motion by the box-selecting device whenone of the independent wires becomes operatively connected therewith acircuit operated by it and indicating devices operated by said circuit,a winding device for said box-selecting device operated by saidre-transmitting motor, substantially as described.

.20. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series ofterminals at a central ofice and independent wires leading therefrom,amotor-driven switch arm for successively engaging said terminals, anelectromagnetically operated stopping mechanism for said switch arm,adapted to be electrically connected with said terminals by said switcharm, a releasing magnet for said motor, and a circuit breaker, bothcommon to all the independent wires, and restoring device therefor,operating aftera signal has been received,

a series of signal boxes, one for each inde- In testimony whereof I havesigned my pendent wire, a circuit controlling device in name to thisspecification in the presence of each box, means for operating it to setthe two subscribing witnesses.

signal, and an electro-magnet in each box for HORACE EVERETT WALTER. 5retaining the circuit controlling device in its Witnesses:

abnormal position until operated from the L. IRVING THA'ICHER,

central office, substantially as described. WILLIAM MOSELEY.

